Cable #58 Review
by: The Mighty Juggernaut himself
Rainer Ho Ten Soeng

Summary of Cable #58: Lest They Shed Blood In His Name! Technical information:
* Publisher: Marvel Comics
* Release date: September, 1998
* Writer: Joe Casey
* Pencillers: Ed McGuinness & Ladronn
* Inkers: Nathan Massenbill & Juan Vlasco
* Colorist: Gloria Vasquez
* Letters: RS & Comicraft
* Editor: Mark Powers
* Editor in Chief: Bob Harras
* Total number of pages: 32 pages with ads, 23 pages without ads
* Subtitle of the book: Busted!
Main characters in the book:
Cable: Nathan Dayspring Summers a.k.a. Cable, uses his mutant abilities of telepathy and telekinesis to fight for a better tomorrow -- and seeks his own fate as a man out of time.
Irene Merryweather: A former reporter for the muckraking Inquiring Eye, Irene dreamt of one day working for a legitimate newspaper such as The Daily Bugle. But when her investigations led to the loss of her friends and her job, Irene dedicated herself to chronocling the life and mission of the man called Cable.
Blaquesmith: The gnomish, misshapen enigma known as Blaquesmith has long been Cable's mentor and taskmaster, training him in the use of his great powers and following him through time to the twentieth century. Blessed with the innate ability to create all manner of high-tech gadgetry, Blaquesmith has often run afoul his pupil, as he is more than willing to deceive others, even his allies, in order to achieve his goals.
G.W. Bridge: Once a close ally of Cable, G.W. Bridge is now one of the highest ranking officers in the government espionage organization S.H.I.E.L.D.. He has often found himself at odds with his old friend and that conflict will soon cost him much.....
Jasper Sitwell: A long-time agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Jasper Sitwell is the Special Director of Internal Affairs, answerable only to the Executive Director himself.
Clay Quartermain: Special Officer Clay Quartermain has served as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. for years, through all its permutations. Currently he is assigned to the new Helicarrier, Hermes, as director of security.
Remarkable quotes:
-1. "The virus is one thing but the loss of my telepathy has changed the way I perceive everything." (Cable)
-2. "It's tough being human, huh, Nathan?" (Irene Merryweather)
-3. "So many people believe in Cable.... but what does HE believe in? Exactly what would he have any reverance for?" (Irene Merryweather)
-4. "Your motives may indeed be noble, but look at how you're going about it.... you hide away from the rest of the world, never experiencing the things that make the cause worth fighting for. If you believe in the future, then make it a better place for your own sakes, not mine. This world is yours. I will not lead you...." (Cable)

The story begins with Cable hanging upside down while Blaquesmith is doing a bio-scan on him in an effort to find out what exactly the consequences are for his pupil of that extreme telepathic disturbance which almost knocked Cable out in the previos issue. (If you read the other X-books as well you will probably know that the massive disruption of the Psionic Plane was caused by a fight between Psylocke and The Shadow King in X-Men #78!) Cable is still feeling not too great and his mood sure does not improve very much when his old mentor informs him that it seems like he has not only lost most of his TP- and TK-powers but that, without his mutant powers around to hold it in check anymore, the techno-organic virus, which he got as a 'gift' from Apocalypse when he was only a young boy, is slowly spreading within his body as well. The TO-virus is spreading itself through Cable's body and although Cable will probably not see any physical manifestation of that he will most certainly feel it.... Cable's up for a lot of pain and the situation will probably only get worse as long as Cable doesn't have his powers to fight and control the virus within his body.
Fortunately enough however Blaquesmith has also some good news for Cable: the read-outs from the bio-scan indicate that Cable may still have some tiny portion of his former psionic abilities left. The bad thing is that Cable doesn't seem to be able to use and tap into whatever is left from his psionic abilities but Blaquesmith points out to Cable that Ch'vayre, that other time-traveller who played an important part in Cable's ordeal in the Swiss Alps (see Cable #51-53 for further details), has left behind some kind of device for Cable which he can use to focus and direct that small bit of energy that still remains within him. Cable, being reminded once again by Blaquesmith of theimportance of his mission in this era, realizes that he has got to obtain that device his mentor is talking about. And together with Irene, who accompanies him on request of Blaquesmith who judges that in his current condition Cable could better not travel alone, Cable leaves for the location where he can find that device according to his mentor.
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Meanwhile onboard of SHIELD's Helicarrier Hermes, Special Officer Clay Quartermain leads his guest, Mr. Seth Waters from the Washington bureau, to the so-called Defcon Chamber, a hidden and secret room which was especially constructed to make it possible to freely discuss all the matters which involved the highest questions of national security without having to fear being overheard by others. Once inside Seth Waters begins to inform Clay Quartermain and the other people in the room about the purpose of his visit....
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The story shifts back to the tiny Greek isle of Syrna in the Aegean Sea where Cable and Irene arrive to search for that mysterious device that Ch'vayre left behind for him. Irene noticed that Cable was in pain most of the time during the journey and to her surprise he paled even more when he learned that the isle of Syrna was part of a group of islands called 'Dodecanese' which could be loosely translated into 'The Twelve'..... There's some kind of old and deserted temple on the island and Cable, although feeling a bit insecure and unsure without his powers, decides to enter it. Without his powers Cable doesn't know what to expect and as he walks into the dark and quiet interior of the temple he instinctively feels that he somehow walks right into an ambush.... Cable's instincts prove to be correct when all of a sudden he's being attacked by several people at once who are out to kill him because he invaded their sanctuary. And before Irene really understands what's happening, Cable finds himself in a fierce fight with his attackers.
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We are taken back to SHIELD's Helicarrier Hermes where agent Jasper Sitwell gives his audience a quick rundown on Cable who is considered to be a terrorist by SHIELD. Sitwell informs his audience about several 'incidents' in which Cable was involved and he warns them that Cable is an extremely powerful and dangerous mutant who has broken various endangerment laws in his time as leader of the young band of mutants known as X-Force. But it soon becomes clear that SHIELD is not only for that reason interested in capturing Cable: no, SHIELD is also told by Dr. Belgrade, head of the carrier division of Extechop, that the possible applications of the techno-organic substance of which a part of Cable's body seems to be made, are limitless should they come into possession of it. And together with Mr. Waters and Mr. Keaton, who represents Shaw Industries (!), Jasper Sitwell feels that this techno-organism would be perfectly fit to aid the stalled Nemesis Program.
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Meanwhile Cable is still fighting with his attackers and he's surprised to see that they use the unique Askani swarming technique to attack him. And although Cable knows every conceivable counterattack to a swarm scenario he can not prevent getting hit from behind in the end. Cable however is not defeated yet and when Sophia, the girl who gave him the blow form behind, comes closer to deliver her killing blow he manages to surprise her and throw her on the ground. The situation is reversed now and Cable, sitting on top of Sophia, demands some answers. Then all of a sudden something unexpected happens: Sophia recognizes Cable and starts yelling that he is the 'Chosen One'! Irene who became worried after it suddenly became deathly quiet in the temple, walks in to check on Cable and just like him she is very surprised to see that the very same people who attacked him a moment ago are now bowing and kneeling before him. That is to say: all but one. There's a young man named Caesar who refuses to believe that Cable is the long-awaited 'Chosen One' but thinks that he's a false idol instead. Cable who's definitely uncomfortable with the turn of events, more or less orders everybody to stop the bowing and kneeling and stand up again. He then learns that the people who attacked him are members of the order of the Askani and former students of the man called Ch'vayre. It was Ch'vayre who trained them in a monastery in the Swiss Alps and it was Ch'vayre who ordered them to burn that monastery, relocate themselves on the isle of Syrna and wait for Cable's help, if he would fail to return to them. (see Cable #50-53 for further details) After hearing all that Cable asks where he can find the device that Ch'vayre has kept for him and Caesar, who still has some major doubts about Cable, shows him the way to the chamber where Cable can find what he came looking for.
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Back in the Defcon chamber the SHIELD executives agree that Cable should be caught as soon as possible. To achieve that they all agree after some discussion that 'Agent 18' is without a doubt the best man to get the job done and Clay Quartermain is given the task to make all necessary arrangements for the capture of Cable.
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In the meanwhile Cable has entered the room Caesar pointed him at and when he returns he carries a so-called Psimitar, an Askani weapon which efficiently harnesses a telekinetic's powers by properly focusing it, in his hands. Sophia is once again convinced that Cable is the 'Chosen One' when she sees him standing with the Psimitar in his hands but Caeser, noticing that the Psimitar does not seem to respond to Cable, disagrees with her and still thinks that Cable is nothing more than a phoney and powerless imposter. Caesar and Sophia begin an argument but Cable interrupts them by saying that he has not come to recruit them to fight for his cause; he has not come to lead them in whatever kind of quest. If they believe in the future and want to make this world a better place then they will have to do so by themselves and for themselves. Caesar who had apparently expected that the 'Chosen One' would be a powerful leader who would led them to a better tomorrow, is clearly angry and disappointed when he hears this. After that unpleasant exchange of words Cable prepares himself to the leave the isle again but before he leaves he asks all the members of the order of the Askani to leave the island too and find a life for themselves. The story ends with a picture of an angry Caesar who promises to himself that he will make Cable pay for destroying his life and everything he hoped for and believed in....
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The Good
Well, for starters, I liked the fact that the events which occurred in X-Men #78 (the massive disturbance of the Psionic Plane) also had consequences for Cable. It is nice to see that the X-books are in a way so closely related. Another thing that pleased me was the fact that Cable made it very clear that he does not want to be an object of worship. That says something about the character of the man and I am glad to see that although he knows that one day he will save this world he is not conceited. Furthermore it was touching to see that without his powers Cable feels a bit insecure and unsure. The scene in which he admits to Irene that being just a 'normal' human without special powers, sure is tough was simply magnificent. It makes Cable all the more 'human', all the more real and all the more understandable to see him act like that. Irene's comments throughout the story only enhanced the pleasure and fun since it made us see Cable and the things he does and feels, through the eyes of a human. Last but not least I have to give praise to the artists who worked on this issue: the art was as spotless as ever! Thanks guys for doing a great job!
The Bad
Perhaps 'bad' is too strong a word to use here but I just did not understand why SHIELD, if they wanted to possess that techno-organism which covers part of Cable's body, simply did not ask Cable for his cooperation. I think that people like G.W. Bridge could have succeeded in talking Cable into it even though there may have been some bad blood between Cable and SHIELD in the past. Another thing which bothered me was the reason why Caesar seemed to distrust that much? Why did Caesar not believe that Cable was the 'Chosen One' if all of his fellow clan members seemed to believe that without a doubt? It can't be the fact that the Psimitar didn't respond to Cable because Sophia must have noticed that too yet she kept believing in Cable. So what's wrong with Caesar? Didn't he sleep too well the night before or was he just having one of his bad days? And finally the thing I dislike the most is that we will have to wait for a whole 30 days (!) before we know what is going to happen next! Please Marvel have mercy with me: I can't wait that long! :-)
Excelsior!
Rainer Ho Ten Soeng